Free Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

not leaving you with this.”
    â€œYou’ve leaving with Calla.”
    â€œThis is about me, not her,” Cage said.
    â€œI’m sure. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve got three assholes to contend with.” Tenn paused. “If they find you here . . .”
    â€œLet them.”
    â€œYou’re not up to this. Not with Calla by your side. What’s more important this time—the fight or the girl?”
    Tenn’s eyes challenged him, reminding him why he’d come here in the first place. “Both, Tenn. They’re two sides of the same damned coin.”
    But nevertheless, he’d pulled his keys from his pocket. “Call Tals.”
    â€œAlready did. I’ll let you know what this is all about.”
    â€œYou’re going to give them a chance to talk?”
    â€œI’m feeling charitable.” Tenn grinned as he flexed his fingers.
    â€œYou know there are more waiting for me to run so they can follow.”
    â€œCounting on it,” Tenn said. “I’m also counting on you outriding them. You always could.”
    â€œI’d rather fight this one than run,” Cage said quietly.
    â€œYou think I want to see you fight? You think I can’t?” Tenn asked. “I want to see you get the girl. So get. The fucking. Girl.”
    He turned away from Cage, focusing all his energy and concentration on the front door. Calla came out of the bedroom, bag slung over her arm, looking hot in a borrowed black leather jacket of Tenn’s.
    â€œWhat’s going on?”
    â€œWe’ve got to go, Calla.”
    She glanced nervously at Tenn, whose shoulders had squared. The energy in the room had changed palpably. The fight was in Tenn. “What’s that sound?”
    â€œHeathens MC.”
    â€œAre they after you?”
    â€œAnd you.” Normally, he’d stay and fight, not let Tenn take on the burden. But he couldn’t risk Calla, and Tenn knew that better than anyone. And so Cage did what he’d never done before.
    He ran.
    She paled and he grabbed her, picked her up and walked her out the back door. Took her bag while handing her a helmet, and once she got on the bike behind him, he told her, “Hang on, Calla. That’s all you’ve got to do.”
    As he pulled out, he noted the Heathens’ bikes parked in Tenn’s front yard. And where there were three Heathens, more were waiting in the wings. They’d figured that if he’d gotten away, he’d head for the most open road and, fuck it all, they were right.
    The bike had the advantage. He slid in and out of truck traffic as Calla held on to him so tightly, her face pressed to his back. He was taking her life in his hands and he’d already nearly taken it away once before.
    But there was no choice now. Because saving her, getting her out of this mess was now the only option he had.
    He forgot about Calla. Worrying about the girl in the bitch seat was a surefire way to get them both killed. And he could ride the goddamned shit out of a bike better than anyone he knew. And he’d do that now.
    He’d ridden for his life before. It took a single-minded focus, and now, with the smell of tar, exhaust and fear swirling around him, the wind rushed madly against his face, battering his body at times, and at others pushing it forward.
    His hands tightened around the bars. He had to fight the urge not to clutch the throttle too hard, refused to freeze and make everything stall out.
    He couldn’t think when he rode like this. He just had to react. Push forward, refuse to look back, ride like the devil was at his heels and his soul was in question.
    Wasn’t it?
    And he wove in and out of the lanes, throwing off the men behind them, keeping the few cars he saw on the road out of his drama. The bike danced for him like a pliant but formidable partner.
    * * *
    I held on to Cage tightly and concentrated on not distracting